Debt Camel

Answers to questions about debts and credit ratings - in plain English!

  • Home
  • Debt refunds ▾
    • Large loans
    • Overdraft refunds
    • Catalogues & credit cards
    • Car finance – affordabilty
  • Debt solutions ▾
    • Debt Management Plans
    • DRO – Debt Relief Order
    • IVAs
    • Bankruptcy
    • Payment arrangements
    • Compare 2 solutions
    • Help if you can’t pay bills & debts
  • Car commission
  • Latest posts
  • About ▾
    • About Debt Camel
    • Media

Getting out of debt

Practical articles about the different debt options, which might work for you and different ways of dealing with creditors

No calls or letters about a debt for years?

If its been several years since you stopped paying a debt and you haven't had any phone calls or letters for a long while, you may be hoping your debt has "got lost". Perhaps the debt collector has forgotten about it... Mr H has a typical situation: I stopped paying a loan at the start of 2016 when I lost my job.  I have a Default on my credit file for June 2017. The bank sold it to a debt … [Read more...]

January 22, 2021 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: Defaults, old debts

Emigrated and want to go bankrupt back in England?

A reader asked: We are moving to Queensland, Australia very soon to live with family. We are both pensioners with no savings or assets and my husband has very large debts from a business failure a couple of years ago. We are hoping that once we get there we could get the money together for his bankruptcy fees. Will he be able to use the online application and file for bankruptcy? Before 2016, if … [Read more...]

January 19, 2021 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: Bankruptcy

Payday lenders – email addresses for complaints

If you want to get a refund for "unaffordable" payday loans, the first step is to complain to the lender. Often it's simple as the lender has a Complaints section on their website, but some have been taken over or the website isn't there anymore, so here is a list of their email addresses. For all these emails put AFFORDABILITY COMPLAINT as the subject of the email. If you haven't already … [Read more...]

January 6, 2021 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: Payday loans

I’m in a DMP – can I get a mortgage?

A reader asked about applying for a mortgage when she is in a Debt Management Plan (DMP): "I have been in a DMP for 8 years and still have 6 to go as I still owe £16,000. With hindsight, I should have gone bankrupt!  My parents will give us a 20% deposit in 2021, but they don't know about my debts so I can't use their money to end the DMP. Will I be able to get a mortgage?" I've written before … [Read more...]

December 18, 2020 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: A reader asks, Credit ratings, DMP, Mortgages

Will you get a Bankruptcy Restriction Order (BRO)? Does it matter?

Here are some recent questions from people worried about going bankrupt and possible Bankruptcy Restriction Orders (BROs): I gambled a lot but stopped over a year ago. I want to apply for bankruptcy, but will I get a bankruptcy restrictions order? I have credit card debts which I can't pay as I have had to stop work because of a disability. I went bankrupt in 2003 and had a DRO in 2015. Will I … [Read more...]

December 11, 2020 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: A reader asks, Bankruptcy

Is gambling wrecking your finances?

A gambling habit often starts small, some fun with your mates or a bit of excitement when you are bored at home. But soon you may be spending more than you can afford. Then your cards and overdraft are maxed out. It is so tempting to hope to win back enough to clear the debts and pay your bills. You need money to do this, so you get a loan. But you lose more... Soon the only credit you can … [Read more...]

November 8, 2020 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: gambling

“Will partial settlement make it hard to get a mortgage?”

Ms F asked: "I have been in debt management for five years after my marriage breakdown. After an inheritance, I want to pay off my DMP as it will carry on for years. I could pay in full but my house needs some urgent work and my car is on its last legs. I asked about my credit score if I offer a partial settlement and was told this would show as partially settled on credit score file. Will I … [Read more...]

October 28, 2020 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: A reader asks, Credit ratings, Full & Final settlements, Mortgages

“Will a credit builder card improve my score?”

A reader asked: I’ve recently paid off my 2 defaulted credit cards and I have been paying into Loqbox for the past 4 months (£70). I got an email from Clearscore saying I can get a Capital One credit card. This is the first time in a long time that I have been offered a credit card because my credit has been so poor but it is slowly improving. Should I apply for this? If I do what is the best … [Read more...]

October 20, 2020 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: A reader asks, credit cards, Credit ratings

Lloyds & Halifax overdraft fees higher if your credit record is poor

In July 2020, Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland (BoS) increased their overdraft charges and a month later people are starting to see the full cost on their monthly statements. This is the fourth change to the banks' overdraft charges since 2017. The new fees are higher for customers with a bad credit rating. This is unfair in several ways. So what can you do if you can't afford these … [Read more...]

August 20, 2020 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: overdraft

“Will paying off debt improve my credit rating?”

A reader asked if his credit score would improve if he paid off some debt. First a useful warning from Experian: There’s no one credit score or magic number – different lenders score differently. But a good place to start is by looking at what exactly is on your credit records.  There are three credit reference agencies in Britain and you have to check all three as they may have different … [Read more...]

June 3, 2020 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: A reader asks, Credit ratings

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • …
  • 20
  • Next Page »

I post regularly on Instagram

Follow me!

Help with your debts

Recommended places for debt advice

Get an email after a new article:

About Debt Camel

This is the personal website of Sara Williams.

More about Debt Camel.
Privacy policy and Comments Policy
Contact (not for debt advice)

 

Copyright © Debt Camel 2025